IMF’s Loan Conditionalities Constrain Investment In Public Health Services In West Africa

Feb 04, 2015

Bretton Woods Project: The IMF’s role in the Ebola outbreak
Julia Robinson and James Pfeiffer of Health Alliance International discuss how “[d]ecades of IMF lending to Ebola-affected countries in West Africa led countries to prioritize debt payments over investment in public services.” They conclude, “…[W]e’ve got to learn the true lesson from the Ebola crisis to prevent the next public health crisis in Africa. IMF conditionalities must end, debt cancelled, and health systems built — no strings attached” (2/2).